Seambuster iron

ABSTRACT

A seambuster iron for pressing &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;opened&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; seam edges during construction of a garment is provided with nozzles which emit in a predetermined pattern jets of compressed gas to &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;bust&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or open the seam edges and lay the separated edges flat for subsequent pressing by the iron.

[ July 23, 1974 United States Patent [1 1 Miranker 2,602,704 7/1952 Richterkessing et 38/77.6 3,534,488 10/1970 3,716,933 2/1973 1 SEAMBUSTER IRON Hardwick et a1. 38/773 Evans et a1, 38/75 [75] Inventor: Samuel 11. Miranker, Brooklyn,

[73] Assignee: Automatic Steam Products Corp.,

Long Island City, NY.

Aug. 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 387,431

Primary Examiner--Patrick D. Lawson [22] Filed:

ABSTRACT A seambuster iron for pressing opened seam edges during construction of a garment is provided with nozzles which emit in a predetermined pattern jets of compressed gas to bust or open the seam edges and lay the separated edges flat for subsequent pressing by the iron.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,649,507 38/77.] 16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures gamma-2 3.824.719

' sum 2 0F 2 FIG. 2 FIG. 3

SEAMBUSTER IRON and places two edges of one or more sections of material are stitched together to form a seam; for example, the seams that pass on each side of a man s pair of trouser legs or jacket sleeves. As the construction of the garment progresses the seam remains unopened (that is, with the seam material edges lying against each other) until they reach the pressing department, at which point the garment is placed on a table or pressing buck and the seam is busted or laid flat so that the seam material edges are separated and flattened on opposite sides of the seam. The separated, flattened edges are then pressed by an iron, and preferably a steam iron, to cause them to retain this configuration.

The iron utilized for this purposeis generally referred to in the pressing art as a seambuster iron and is not too dissimilar from the typical hand-held portable steam irons sold for home use except for minor adaptations affecting the economy of operation-namely, the use of an external dry steam supply, a flexible tube connecting the steam supply to the base of the iron, and a regulating mechanism on the iron for controlling the flow of steam from the steam supply through the tube and into the iron base. The front and rear ends of the sole plate of the iron are typically beveled upwardly about 3 in order to facilitate forward and backward movement of the seambuster iron over the seams. In operatiomthe iron is held in one hand and moved forwardly while the other hand travels slightly ahead of the iron and opens the seams (that is, lays them flat), the iron subsequently following the leading hand and pressing the laid open scam in that configuration. If the iron follows closely upon the leading hand, the fingers of the leading hand may be burned. If the presser wishes to use one hand to smoke a cigarette, the seambusting operation must be suspended.

To alleviate these difficulties, various mechanical plows have been attached to the forward end of a seambuster iron to facilitate one-handed operation as shown in U.S. Pats. No. 349,263, No. 592,918, No. 932,248 and'No. 1,007,305. Such mechanical plows, while generally permitting one-handed operation of the seambuster iron, have not proven entirely satisfactory in use due to the need for physical contact between the mechanical plow and the material of the seam. Snagging of the material on the mechanical plow can lead at best to stretching the material, and at worst to tearing of the material. Additionally, such mechanical plows constitute another point of friction between the iron and the seam, and thus contribute to fatigue of the pressers arm over a day's operation. Further, if the iron is moved too rapidly or spasmodically, the mechanical plow can physically disengage from the seam.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a seambuster iron incorporating a nonmechanical device to open the seam.

It is another object to provide such a seambuster iron in which jets of gas are used to lay open the seam.

It is also an object to provide such a seambuster iron which is capable of laying the seam open without physically contacting the material.

An object of the present invention is to provide such a seambuster iron which is capable of safe one-handed operation.

Another object is to provide such a seambuster iron which may be used at a high rate of travel.

A further object is to provide such a seambuster iron having interchangeable non-mechanical devices to open the seam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that the above and related objects may be obtained in a seambuster iron comprising a base having handle means and a substantially planar elongated sole plate by further providing nozzle means secured to the base for directing a jet of gas under pressure in front of the sole plate. Gas-communicating means for connecting the nozzle means to a compressed gas supply, and gas-regulating means for controlling the flow of gas from the gas supply to the nozzle means are also provided.

In a preferred embodiment the iron further includes pressure-actuable switch means, steam-communicating means for connecting the base to a dry steam supply, and steam-regulating means for controlling the flow of dry steam from the steam supply into the base. Typically the steam-regulating means and the gas-regulating means are electronically connected to remote solenoid valves controlling the steam supply and the gas supply, respectively. The gas-regulating means and steamregulating means are preferably both responsive to the switch means, so that flow of gas and steam is synchronized in response to actuation of the switch means.

The nozzle means comprises a manifold terminating in at least one nozzle directed forwardly of the sole plate and downwardly at an angle to the plane of the sole plate, and preferably a plurality of differently directed nozzles. In one embodiment of the nozzle means, each nozzle is directed outwardly at an angle to the axis of the sole plate, preferably outwardly at a 253 3 angle to the axis. In another embodiment of the nozzle means, each of a pair of generally forwardly facing nozzles, is directed inwardly at an angle to the axis of the sole plate, preferably inwardly at a 25-33 angle to the axis. In the second embodiment the nozzles are preferably directed inwardly at different points along the axis.

The gas-communicating means passes through the length of the handle means, and additionally contains coupling means releasably securing the manifold to the handle means. In one instance the coupling means is internally threaded and the ends of the manifold and the handle means adjacent the coupling means are externally threaded to permit the coupling means to releasably secure the manifold to the handle means. Alternatively, the coupling means is permanently disposed atone end of the handle means and comprises a screw mechanism to releasably secure the manifold to the handle means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a seambuster iron according to the present invention, with related elements being indicated schematically;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic view of the iron nozzles approaching a seam.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view of the iron nozzles busting a seam.

3 FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevation view, partially in cross-section, of the front of the iron pressing the laid open seam. FIGQS is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the manifold of the seambuster iron according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, therein illustrated is a seambuster iron generally indicated by the numeral and, schematically indicated, various auxiliary devices utilized therewith including a supply of dry steam 12 operated by a solenoid valve 14 and a supply of gas 16 operated by a solenoid valve 18. As the most economical, convenient and practical gas to use is compressed air, hereinafter reference will be made to the compressed air supply 16 and the gas used to lay open the seam will be referred to as air, although other gases, including steam, may obviously be used with similar effect.

Describing first the conventional features of the iron, the seambuster iron 10 generally comprises a hollow base 22 having an elongated sole plate 24, which, while substantially planar, maybe slightly beveled upwardly at the frontand rear edges, by about 3, to-facilitate movement of the iron in forward and rearward directions over a seam. The sole plate 24 contains a typical pattern of perforations 26 (see FIG. 4) extending therethrough for escape of passing steam from within the base 22. Except for the perforations 26, the base defines a steam-tight chamber which communicates with the dry steam supply 12 by means of a flexible steam hose 28 which detachably connects at one end to the steam supply valve 14 and at the other end to an externally threaded hollow steam-communicating nipple 30, at the rear of base 22, which in turn communicates with the interior of the chamber. Within the base 22 are disposed conventional electric heating elements (not shown) connected to an external power supply 36 by means of an insulated wire 38. The temperature of the heating elements is controlled by a conventional temperature selector 42 atop the base 22. Also included as part of the base 22 is a cool cork handle 44, and firmly secured to the base 22 near handle 44 for convenient thumb-control is a switch box 45 including a feather-touch upwardly-biased micro switch 46. The switch 46 is connected to the steam supply solenoid 14 by electrical wire 48 and conventional circuit means (not shown) located within switch box 45 for controlling operation of the steam supply solenoid valve 14 so as to regulate the flow of dry steam from the steam supply 12 into the steam hose 28 and steam nipple 30. The control circuit means may be merely an on-off circuit or a more complex circuit permitting various degrees of steam flow. The base 22 is generally of light and durable aluminum construction to reduce operator fatigue and insure high quality seams.

Turning now to the novel aspects of the present invention, air-communicating means generally indicated by the numeral 50 comprisesa handle passageway 51 and a coupler 52, while nozzle means generally indicated by the numeral 53 and communicating with the air-communicating means 50 comprises a manifold 54. The handle passageway 51 commences at the coupler 52 in front of handle 44, traverses the length of handle 44 from front to rear and terminates in an externally ridged hollow air-communicating nipple 58 at the rear of handle 44. A flexible air hose 60 detachably connects at one end to the air supply valve 18 and at the other end in'a friction fit over the air nipple 58. The manifold 54 is secured to the base 22 (and more particularly the front of the handle 44) by coupler 52 and extends forwardly of the base 22, terminating just above the plane of the sole plate 24. The forward end of the nozzle means 53, and more particularly the manifold 54, is bifurcated and terminates in left and right nozzles 60, 62 disposed and directed forwardly of the sole plate 24. Each of the nozzles 60, 62 is furthermore directed downwardly at an angle to the plane of the sole plate 24, which plane is contiguous with the plane of the laid open seam. I

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the nozzles 60, 62 are directed inwardly at an angle to the axis of the sole plate 24, which axis is also the axis of travel for the iron. The spaced, generally facing nozzles 60, 62 are preferably directed inwardly, at a 25 to 33 angle, depending on the type of fabric being worked on, the pressure of the compressed air supply 16, and other pertinent factors obvious to those skilled in the art. While the nozzles 60, 62 are generally facing, right nozzle 62 is directed slightly forwardly (along the travel axis of the sole plate) relative to the direction of left nozzle 60 so that the air jets emanating under pressure from the nozzles 60, 62 do not cancel one another, but act successively to lay the seam edges flat, as hereinafter described in detail. Alternatively, or supplementarily, the axis of right nozzle 62 is also directed somewhat above the axis of left nozzle 60 to further minimize cancellation of the jets streams.

Switch 46 is also connected to the air supply solenoid 18 by electrical wire and conventional circuit means (not shown), located within switch box 45 and similar in nature to the steam-controlling circuit means, for controlling operation of the air supply solenoid valve 18 so as to regulate the flow of compressed air from the air supply 16 into the air hose 60 and air nipple 58. Thus, as both the air and steam flow control circuitry is responsive to actuation of switch 46, the flow of air and steam into the iron is synchronized. A flexible insulative sheath 72 may optionally be used about the electrical wires 48, 70 for protection and to keep them together. To preclude the wire-carrying sheath 72 from interfering with travel of the iron, the sheath 72 is conveniently passed through a sheath passageway (not shown) axially passing through base 22 from which the sheath 72 exits at the rear of the iron. Air hose 60, steam hose 28, and most of the sheath 72, conveniently trail the iron along its forward travel path.

The manifold 54 is preferably formed of a strong but light-weight composition such as brass tubing. To insure maintenance of the proper relative orientation and the proper spacing between nozzles 60, 62, the nozzles may be physically interconnected at the bottom of the manifold 54 by a nozzle separator (not shown). Generally, it is desirable that the bifurcated segment of the embodiment, the manifold 54 terminates in a pair of adjacent, generally opposed nozzles 60', 62', similar to nozzles 60, 62, except that each of the nozzles 60', 62 is direcred at least slightly outwardly at an angle to the axis of the sole plate 24, preferably at a to 33 angle as aforementioned. The degree to which the jets emanate outwardly is determined by the angle of the bevels on the common dividing piece 74 between the nozzles 60, 62.

The use of a manifold 54 having generally opposed nozzles 60, 62' as opposed to one having generally facing nozzles 60, 62 is a matter of choice for the presser depending upon the effectiveness of each in handling particular types and weights of fabric, available air pressures, the widths of the seam edges to be laid open, and the like.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show the operation of the iron 10 as it approaches a seam generally indicated by the numeral 80 having a left edge 82 and a right edge 84. Referring now to FIG. 2, actuation of the iron 10 is commenccd by thumb pressure on switch 46 which, in turn, through steam control circuitry and electrical wire 48 and air control circuitry and electrical wire 70, opens steam supply solenoid valve 14 and air supply solenoid valve 18, respectively. At this point dry steam from the steam supply 12 passes through the steam hose 28, through steam nipple and into the base 22, from which it emerges through sole plate perforations 26. Simultaneously, compressed air from air supply 16 passes through air hose 60, through air nipple 58 and into handle passageway 51 of air-communicating means 50. The air continues through coupler 52 into manifold 54 of nozzle means 53 and is expelled as air jets under pressure through nozzles 60 and 62, as indicated by the arrows, each ofthe jets blowing the seam edges 82, 84 in a different direction to bust them open and lay them flat, where they can be pressed by the iron sole plate Referring now to FIG. 3, the emerging air jets are directed inwardly at an angle to the sole plate axis and downwardly into the plane of the sole plate, with the jet from right nozzle 62 being directed slightly forward and upwardly of the jet from left nozzle 60 so that the right nozzle 62 jet peels back left seam edge 82 before the left nozzle 60 jet flattens right seam edge 84. The combined effect of these air jets is to bust the seam 80 in front of the iron 10, flattening the protruding seam edges 82, 84 so that manual opening of the seam 80 is rendered unnecessary.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the flattened seam edges 82,

84 are finally passed over by the sole plate 24, the dry steam emerging from the sole plate perforations 26 causing the seam edges 82, 84 to retain their new flattened position. i

The manifold 54 of an iron may be permanently secured to the base 22 or handle 44 and, if desired, formed integrally therewith, in which case different irons 10 must be used when different manifolds 54 are required at various times; e.g., if the fabric type is changed. However, to reduce capital investment costs, the front end of the iron 10 is desirably provided, as shown in FIG. 1, with a coupler 52 fixed on the handle means 44 and adapted to releasably secure any one of the variously configured manifolds 54 to the handle means 44 at a given time. A screw 57 accessible from without the coupler 52 engages the manifold 54 by a friction fit against the side thereof and secures it to the 54 and tightened after replacement thereof by another manifold 54 to releasably secure the new manifold 54 to the coupler 52 and hence to the handle 44 of base 22. The manifold 54 may also be provided with a ridge, depression or aperture designed to interact with screw 57, to insure proper positioning of the manifold end within coupler 52 and a securer engagement therein. Screw 57 may, of course, be a thumb screw instead of a slotted-head screw.

In another embodiment, to increase the versatility of the iron by facilitating interchangeability of variously configured manifolds 54 without requiring the use of external tools, a separate internally threaded, hollow cylindrical coupler 52 is provided and the handle 44 (defining passageway 51) and the manifold 54 are externally threaded at their coupler-engaging ends and releasably secured together by means of the coupler 52 so that the manifold 54 is easily detachable from the iron 10. Thus, should a particular application require use of the alternate embodiment of the manifold nozzles, the manifold 54 currently in use may be removed from the handle 44 by rotation of the coupler 52 in one direction and replaced with the other interchangeable manifold 54, which will then be secured to the handle 44 by rotation of coupler 52 in the opposite direction. The coupler 52 may alternatively be a conventional clip-fit type of coupler with similar effect.

While the connection between steam hose 28 and steam nipple 30 has been shown as a screw or thread-fit (in view of the strong need to prevent accidental disengagement thereof) and the connection between air hose and air nipple 58 has been shown as a less secure friction-f1t, obviously the latter connection could also be of the more secure screw or thread-fit although the escape of air is obviously less of a danger than the escape of steam.

While the preferred embodiment has shown a single switch 46 having means for controlling both the steam supply and air supply solenoid valves 14, 18, obviously a pair of separate switches could be utilized, each controlling one of the two solenoid valves 14, 18 independently of the other. In yet another embodiment a single solenoid might be utilized to control both the steam and air supply valves 12, 16, the single solenoid being responsive to a single switch 46. In a preferred embodiment, a two level switch is used, depression of the switch to the first level actuating one of the control circuits (say, for steam) and depression of the switch to the second level causing the second control circuit (for air) to also become actuated.

As clearly evidenced by the above description of the construction and operation of the novel seambuster iron, it can be seen that the seambuster iron of the present invention utilizes air jets for the busting and laying flat of seams, thereby rendering obsolete manual or mechanical plow opening of seams and improving the speed, safety and economy of the busting operation.

Various embodiments of the present invention being shown and described in detail, other modifications and variations therein will now be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the handle passageway for air could be dispensed with and the manifold itself 7 releasably secured to the base and directly connected to the air hose, although in such an embodiment the desirable cooling effect of the air passing through the handle would be lost. Consequently, the spirit and scope of this invention should be considered as defined not by the foregoing disclosure, but by the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a seambuster iron for busting and laying flat a seam comprising a base having handle means and a substantially planar elongated sole plate, the improvement comprising A. nozzle means secured to said base and oriented forwardly and inclined laterally relative to the length of said base to direct a jet of gas under pressure extending to a scam in front of said sole plate to bust and lay flat the seam,

B. gas-communicating means for connecting said nozzle means to a compressed gas supply, and

C. gas-regulating means for controlling the flow of gas from the gas supply to said nozzle means.

2. In a seambuster iron comprising a base having handle means and a substantially planar elongated sole plate, the improvement comprising A. nozzle means secured to said base for directing a jet of gas under pressure in front of said sole plate,

B. gas-communicating means for connecting said nozzle means to a compressed gas supply,

C. gas-regulating means for controlling the flow of gas from the gas supply to said nozzle means,

D. pressure-actuable switch means,

E. steam-communicating means for'connecting said base to a dry steam supply, and

F. steam-regulating means for controlling the flow of dry steam from the steam supply into said base; said gas-regulating means and said steam-regulating means both being responsive to said switch means, whereby flow of gas and steam is synchronized in response to actuation of said switch means.

3. The iron of claim 1 further including steamcommunicating means for connecting said base to a dry steam supply, and steam-regulating means for controlling the flow of dry steam from the steam supply into said base; and wherein said steam-regulating means and said gas-regulating means are electrically connected to remote solenoid valves controlling the steam supply and the gas supply, respectively.

4. The iron of claim 1 wherein said nozzle means comprises a manifold terminating in a plurality of differently directed nozzles directed forwardly of said sole plate and downwardly at an angle to the plane of said sole plate.

5. The iron of claim 4 wherein said nozzles are each directed outwardly at an angle to the axis of said sole plate.

6. The iron of claim 5 wherein said nozzles are directed outwardly at a 25-33 angle to said axis.

7. The iron of claim 4 wherein said nozzle means comprises a pair of generally forwardly facing nozzles, each of said nozzles being directed inwardly at an angle to the axis of said sole plate.

8. The iron of claim 7 wherein said nozzles are directed inwardly at a 25-3 3 angle to said axis.

9. The iron of claim 7 wherein said nozzles are directed inwardly at different points along said axis.

10. The iron of claim 4 wherein said manifold is removably secured to said handle means.

11. The iron of claim 4 wherein said gascommunicating means passes through said handle means.

12. In a seambuster iron comprising a base having handle means and a substantially planar elongated sole plate, the improvement comprising A. nozzle means secured to said base for directing a jet of gas under pressure in front of said sole plate, said nozzle means comprising a manifold terminating in at least one nozzle directed forwardly of said sole plate and downwardly at an angle to the plane of said sole plate,

B. gas-communicating means passing through the length of said handle means for connecting said nozzle means to a compressed gas supply,

C. gas-regulating means for controlling the flow of gas from the gas supply to said nozzle means, and

D. coupling means releasably securing said manifold to said handle means.

13. The iron of claim 12 wherein said coupling means is internally threaded and the end of said manifold and said handle means adjacent said coupling means are externally threaded, whereby said coupling means releasably secures said manifold to said handle means.

14. The iron of claim 12 wherein said coupling means is permanently disposed at one end of said handle means and comprises a screw mechanism to releasably secure said manifold to said handle means.

15. In a seambuster iron comprising a base having handle means and a substantially planar elongated sole plate, the improvement comprising A. nozzle means secured to said base for directing a jet of gas under pressure in front of said sole plate,

B. gas-communicating means for connecting said nozzle means to a compressed gas supply,

C. gas-regulating means for controlling the flow of gas from the gas supply to said nozzle means, and

said sole plate to bust and lay flat the seam. 

1. In a seambuster iron for busting and laying flat a seam comprising a base having handle means and a substantially planar elongated sole plate, the improvement comprising A. nozzle means secured to said base and oriented forwardly and inclined laterally relative to the length of said base to direct a jet of gas under pressure extending to a seam in front of said sole plate to bust and lay flat the seam, B. gas-communicating means for connecting said nozzle means to a compressed gas supply, and C. gas-regulating means for controlling the flow of gas from the gas supply to said nozzle means.
 2. In a seambuster iron comprising a base having handle means and a substantially planar elongated sole plate, the improvement comprising A. nozzle means secured to said base for directing a jet of gas under pressure in front of said sole plate, B. gas-communicating means for connecting said nozzle means to a compressed gas supply, C. gas-regulating means for controlling the flow of gas from the gas supply to said nozzle means, D. pressure-actuable switch means, E. steam-communicating means for connecting said base to a dry steam supply, and F. steam-regulating means for controlling the flow of dry steam from the steam supply into said base; said gas-regulating means and said steam-regulating means both being responsive to said switch means, whereby flow of gas and steam is synchronized in response to actuation of said switch means.
 3. The iron of claim 1 further including steam-communicating means for connecting said base to a dry steam supply, and steam-regulating means for controlling the flow of dry steam from the steam supply into said base; and wherein said steam-regulating means and said gas-regulating means are electrically connected to remote solenoid valves controlling the steam supply and the gas supply, respectively.
 4. The iron of claim 1 wherein said nozzle means comprises a manifold terminating in a plurality of differently directed nozzles directed forwardly of said sole plate and downwardly at an angle to the plane of said sole plate.
 5. The iron of claim 4 wherein said nozzles are each directed outwardly at an angle to the axis of said sole plate.
 6. The iron of claim 5 wherein saId nozzles are directed outwardly at a 25*-33* angle to said axis.
 7. The iron of claim 4 wherein said nozzle means comprises a pair of generally forwardly facing nozzles, each of said nozzles being directed inwardly at an angle to the axis of said sole plate.
 8. The iron of claim 7 wherein said nozzles are directed inwardly at a 25*-33* angle to said axis.
 9. The iron of claim 7 wherein said nozzles are directed inwardly at different points along said axis.
 10. The iron of claim 4 wherein said manifold is removably secured to said handle means.
 11. The iron of claim 4 wherein said gas-communicating means passes through said handle means.
 12. In a seambuster iron comprising a base having handle means and a substantially planar elongated sole plate, the improvement comprising A. nozzle means secured to said base for directing a jet of gas under pressure in front of said sole plate, said nozzle means comprising a manifold terminating in at least one nozzle directed forwardly of said sole plate and downwardly at an angle to the plane of said sole plate, B. gas-communicating means passing through the length of said handle means for connecting said nozzle means to a compressed gas supply, C. gas-regulating means for controlling the flow of gas from the gas supply to said nozzle means, and D. coupling means releasably securing said manifold to said handle means.
 13. The iron of claim 12 wherein said coupling means is internally threaded and the end of said manifold and said handle means adjacent said coupling means are externally threaded, whereby said coupling means releasably secures said manifold to said handle means.
 14. The iron of claim 12 wherein said coupling means is permanently disposed at one end of said handle means and comprises a screw mechanism to releasably secure said manifold to said handle means.
 15. In a seambuster iron comprising a base having handle means and a substantially planar elongated sole plate, the improvement comprising A. nozzle means secured to said base for directing a jet of gas under pressure in front of said sole plate, B. gas-communicating means for connecting said nozzle means to a compressed gas supply, C. gas-regulating means for controlling the flow of gas from the gas supply to said nozzle means, and D. moisture-spraying means separate from said nozzle means and said gas-communicating means for spraying moisture on a workpiece.
 16. The iron of claim 15 wherein said nozzle means is oriented forwardly and inclined laterally relative to the length of said base to direct a jet of gas under pressure extending to a seam of the workpiece in front of said sole plate to bust and lay flat the seam. 